Bakersfield City School District
School District · Bakersfield, California
Avg Rating
5.4
out of 10
Schools
44
34 elem, 10 mid
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,155
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
Avg Rating
5.4
out of 10
Schools
44
34 elem, 10 mid
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,155
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
Evaluating Bakersfield City?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Bakersfield City as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Downtown Elementary
Bakersfield · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary
Bakersfield · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Paul L. Cato Middle
Bakersfield · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#548 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.9
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,155
+$1,508 vs California median
District size
28,761 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Bakersfield City ranks #548 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Bakersfield City's schools with real test data average 5.4/10 across 44 schools. Its top-rated schools are Downtown Elementary (8.2/10), Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary (8.0/10), and Paul L. Cato Middle (8.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.4/10 despite 93% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Bakersfield City schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Bakersfield City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Bakersfield City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (44 of 44). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downtown Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Paul L. Cato Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Cesar E. Chavez Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Bessie E. Owens Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Leo G. Pauly Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Frank West Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Munsey Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Roosevelt Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
See all 44 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Bakersfield City
Bakersfield City is a Bakersfield, California school district serving 44 schools. The district educates 28,761 students with a student-teacher ratio of 20.5:1. The district invests $19,155 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.4/10, Bakersfield City demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Downtown Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.
In standardized testing, Bakersfield City students show an average math proficiency of 28.5% and ELA proficiency of 34.0%.
The district includes 34 elementary schools , 10 middle schools .
District Map
Schools in Bakersfield City, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Bakersfield City with test data.
Schools in Bakersfield City
44 schools Elementary Schools 34
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Bakersfield
- Total Enrollment
- 28,761
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,403
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Bakersfield City?
Bakersfield City has 44 schools in total — 34 elementary, 10 middle. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Bakersfield City?
The average composite rating for Bakersfield City is 5.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Bakersfield City?
Bakersfield City spends $19,155 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bakersfield City?
The average student-teacher ratio in Bakersfield City is 20.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Bakersfield City?
Downtown Elementary is the highest-rated school in Bakersfield City with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What are the test scores in Bakersfield City?
Across schools in Bakersfield City with test data, the average math proficiency is 28.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 34.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Bakersfield City compare to other districts in California?
Bakersfield City has an average school rating of 5.4/10 across 44 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 28.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 34.0%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Bakersfield City with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
- Twin Rivers Unified (43)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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